Clara, that mechanical thing seems to have gone off to search in a different direction. Supposing we meet someone – how will we know if it is . . . what was it called . . . The Controller?

Well Eliot, if we meet anything other than the occasional wandering scorpion, it’s a pretty good bet we’ll be looking at the controller.

Yi – i – i – i – … Clara, what, who . . . it looks like . . . a dinosaur?

Greetings, creatures of this planet. I am Steg. Perhaps you have seen my dinomaton Z72XY wandering about? We seem to have become separated during our explorations here.

Hello! I am Clara and this is Eliot. We are helping Z72XY find someone called The Controller. Would that be you?

Why yes, I am from a class of beings known as controllers. We travel throughout the universe . . . controlling things.

Please don’t be offended, but you bear a strong resemblence to dinosaurs that roamed the earth many eons ago . . . a stegosaurus, in fact.

Why should I be offended? We controllers ARE the dinosaurs which once populated this planet.

Wh-a-a-t?! Weren’t you dinosaurs the victims of a large meteorite that smashed into Earth causing an extreme change in climate? At least that is what I learned at Camel University.

And I heard the same thing from humans in the 21st century . . . before I escaped from the circus through a time warp to this place and time.

Not at all. We knew the meteorite was coming and made plans to leave the Earth well in advance. It was known back then as the Great One-Way Ticket to the Stars. Before leaving, we left certain symbols hoping to inspire what was then the beginnings of humankind. By the way, do you know what happened to those humans? Were they inspired by our symbols to thrive and live in peace?

Oh no, they died out many centuries ago – and they almost took all of us with them. It seems their innate characteristics were too much to overcome: ego, selfishness, and greed. Eliot, who has travelled through time, actually interacted with them.

Yes, and I was lucky to escape with even one tusk.

Well, that is sad . . . but not unexpected from what we had observed of their lives back then. But I digress. Clara and Eliot, it is imperative that we find Z72XY. Then I must continue on our journey to report on the present status of this galaxy.

= = =

Brought to you in Futuro-CamelColor by the Zero 2000 pinhole camera and Kodak Ektar 100 film.

Riis Park, Rockaway, Queens, NY